Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O you who believe! Take care of your ownselves. If you follow the (right) guidance [and enjoin what is right (Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm orders one to do) and forbid what is wrong (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden)] no hurt can come to you from those who are in error. The return of you all is to Allâh, then He will inform you about (all) that which you used to do.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَاyāayyuhāO you
ٱلَّذِينَalladhīnawho
ءَامَنُوا۟āmanūbelieve
عَلَيْكُمْʿalaykumUpon you
أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖanfusakum(is to guard) yourselves
لَاlāNot
يَضُرُّكُمyaḍurrukumwill harm you
مَّنman(those) who
ضَلَّḍalla(have gone) astray
إِذَاidhāwhen
ٱهْتَدَيْتُمْ ۚih'tadaytumyou have been guided
إِلَىilāTo
ٱللَّهِl-lahiAllah
مَرْجِعُكُمْmarjiʿukum(is) your return
جَمِيعًۭاjamīʿanall
فَيُنَبِّئُكُمfayunabbi-ukumthen He will inform you
بِمَاbimāof what
كُنتُمْkuntumyou used to
تَعْمَلُونَtaʿmalūnado
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 105) {يٰۤاَيُّهَاالَّذِيْنَاٰمَنُوْاعَلَيْكُمْاَنْفُسَكُم … :} That is, even after such clear explanation of monotheism and the commands of the Shariah, repeated encouragement, and warnings against disobedience to Allah’s commands and His punishment, if these people persist in their ignorance, then do not worry about their misguidance and ignorance. If you remain on the straight path yourself, then the ignorance of these people will not bring any harm upon you. That is, first and foremost, be concerned with your own reform; do not become so preoccupied with the faults and mistakes of others that you forget your own self-reform. If you are on the straight path, misguided people will not be able to harm you in any way. Included in remaining on the straight path and guidance is that you will continue to enjoin good and forbid evil, so their misguidance will certainly not be able to harm you. Some people have misunderstood from this verse that a person should only worry about his own salvation and that reforming others is not necessary. To remove this misunderstanding, Abu Bakr Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him) said in one of his sermons: “O people! You recite this verse and take its meaning incorrectly. I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: ‘When people see an oppressor and do not restrain his hand, it is near that Allah will bring punishment upon all of them.’” In the same hadith it is stated: “There is no nation among whom Allah’s disobedience is committed, and they have the power to change it but do not do so, except that it is near that Allah will encompass all of them in His punishment.” [ أبو داوٗد، الملاحم، باب الأمر والنہی : ۴۳۳۸ ] The words of {’’اِذَااهْتَدَيْتُمْ ‘‘} indicate that the meaning of the verse is that if, despite your enjoining good and forbidding evil, people do not desist, then there will be no burden upon those who enjoin good. (Ibn Kathir)
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
15. 1. Some people, due to the apparent words, have developed the misconception that if one reforms oneself, that is sufficient. Enjoining good and forbidding evil is not necessary. But this meaning is not correct because the duty of enjoining good is also extremely important. If a Muslim abandons this very duty, then how will the one who abandons it remain steadfast on guidance? When the Quran has set the condition (when you yourselves are following guidance). Therefore, when this matter came to the knowledge of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq ؓ, he said, "O people! You are using the verse in the wrong context. I have heard the Prophet ﷺ say that when people see evil and do not try to change it, it is near that Allah will seize them with His punishment." Therefore, the correct meaning of the verse is that if, despite your advising, people do not adopt the path of righteousness or do not refrain from evil, then it is not harmful to you as long as you yourself remain steadfast on righteousness and abstain from evil. However, in one situation, abandoning enjoining good and forbidding evil is permissible: when a person does not find within himself the strength for it and his life is in danger because of it. In this situation, under فان لم یستطع فبقلبہ وذلک اضعف الایمان, there is allowance for it. The verse also accommodates this situation.
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
105. O you who believe! Take care of your own selves. If you are rightly guided, the misguidance of others will not harm you [153]. To Allah is your return, all of you, and He will inform you of what you used to do.
[153] First and Foremost, Reforming Oneself is Necessary:
That is, you must first reform your own self. You should not look at what others are doing. Rather, you should correct your beliefs, your character, morals, and actions in the light of the Book and Sunnah. The deviation and misguidance of others cannot harm you in any way. That is, first and foremost, you should strengthen your own religious foundations to such an extent that the misguidance of other people cannot affect you in any way. After that, you should try to reform other misguided people. This does not mean at all that: whatever others do, you should remain unconcerned with them and only worry about yourself. Because the duty of «اَمَرْبالْمَعْرُوْفِ» and «نَهَيعَنِالْمُنْكَرِ» is so important that, according to some scholars, it is an individual obligation (fard 'ayn). And every person must fulfill this duty within their sphere of influence according to their ability, knowledge, and capacity. Still, if someone does not desist despite being stopped, then there is no blame on the one who tried to stop them.
